Proportional dividers



' 19 May 27 w. F. SPROUT PROPORTIONAL DIVIDERS iii) Patented May 3, 1927.

WILLI S F. SPROUT, OF LEBANON, KANSAS.

PROPOBTIONAL DIVIDERS.

' Application filed December 30, 1924. Serial No, 758,816.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a tool for readily and quickly locating uniformly spaced points in a given length, so that the mental calculation of such division maybe done away with and so that the points may be located with a niccty not possible with a rule or dividers; to provide a tool particularly adapted for laying off the divisions necessary in the construction of sash and doors, thus materially reducing the time necessary to he employed by the bar man in such operation; and to provide a tool which may be easily and cheaply constructed and, therefore, marketable at a low cost.

With this object in view, the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention shown in extended position.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the tool closed.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-4-3 of Figure 1. I

Figur 4 is a similar view on the line 1---4t of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by the line G-6 of Figure 1.

Gonstructed on the plan 01 lazy tongs, the device consists of a plurality of bars 1 pivotally connected at intermediate points in their length, as at 2, and pivotally connected terminally, as at 3 and 4. The terminal links 5 are half the length the bars and have their terminals pivotally connected at 6. The pivotal connections 2 and 3 consistinerely of rivets connecting the crossing and terminally connected bars 1 but the pivotal connections 4 consist of pivot pins 7 protruding beyond the plane of the bars on one side of the device and having conical terminals 8 for penetration into the surface measured to anchor the tool at the extremities of the length to be divided.

In the illustrated embodiment, a pin 7 provided at each extremity of the tool and additional pins provided at pivotal connections of the next succeeding bars, so that the tool may be readily adapted for determining different divisions within a specified range.

For example, if the pivot pins 7 at the 0pposite terminalsbe placed at the extremities otthe length to be measured, every pivot point a between them and in line with the same will represent a division point or, ii.

marking or spotting may be made opposite the necessary pivot points. By providing the pins '7 at one end and at adjacent pivot points at that end, almost every conceivable number of divisions may be had, it being only necessary to select one of the plurality of pins 7 at one end and the pin 7 at the othler end as the working extremities of the too In order to provide the necessary gauges for n'larking and thus make it unnecessary to spot from the pivot points, there is pro vided between each of thebars 1 at the ends connected by the pins 1 and the rivets in line therewith, a plate 9 having a marking notch .10 and in order that this marking notch may be always above the point of pivotal connection of the bars, the plate is provided with a longitudinal slot 11 traversed by the rivet at or the pin 7, depending on the point at which the plate is positioned. Further, there is provided in each plate the transverse slots 12 and 1 1, one of which is engaged by a pin 15 on one of the bars 1 and the other by a pin 16 on the bar pivotally connected with the first bar. Thus, as the tool is spread or. opened, the pins 15 and 16 tend to maintain the plate with that edge having the notch 10 therein in a position parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tool. Thus, the notches 10 define the division point in the laying off of a pieceot work.

To retain the tool in closed position, a latch plate 17 is provided, having a pivotal connection with the pin 7 at one end of the tool. When the tool is in use and it is necessary thatit be extended and contracted, the latch plate is terminally engaged at the opposite ends with a knob 18 carried by the pivotalcconnection between the links 5, the latch plate having a notch 19 in one end for engagement with said knob; When the tool is not in use and in closedor contracted po sition, the notch 19 of the latch plate is engaged with the head of the pin 7 at the other end of the tool, as shown, and thus the tool is retained in closed position. The latch plate is dimensioned according to the links latch plate dimensioned according to one of the terminal links and having a pivotal con nection therewith coincident with that links connection With the next link, said latch plate having a notch adapted to selectively engage a knob at the adjacent end of the series of links or one at the remote end of the series when the series is folded.

In testimony whereof he atlixes his signa- 2o ture.

WILLIS F. SIROUT. 

